Calculation Engine (Define Fields)

I am looking at developing a database for my company to manage the sales and products. I am kind of getting the whole relationship thing, and the differences between this and Access. After flicking through the white paper for FMP beginners, im left somewhat confused. The database WILL be used by a least 4 people at anyone time on our local LAN using sharing, the whitepaper mentions setting parameters to allow different users, HOW THE HECK TO I DO THAT! Also what are portals? are they queries? Is anyone able to be my mentor? Im finding it really hard to locate any good material for traninig on this software, this site is great, but im finding it ha…

Hello, I have my DB laid out as such: Interview::cID Interview::Contact Name I have cID setup to lookup the ID # for Interview::Contact Name, and Interview::Contact Name to lookup the Full Name from the cID #. The problem I come across is one calculates and the other can't for some reason. What can I do to resolve this? Thanks and God Bless! David

Is there anyway to add bubble/baloon help to a container field.

I am reading two different beliefs when it comes to primary keys (unique auto-enter serial numbers).... one recommendation is to keep the field as number- for fast indexing. The other recommendation is to keep it as text and begin the serial number with a prefix that will indicate what table it is in. What is the best practice for Filemaker? What is normally done? I have 10 tables in my database- and this is the first iteration. In the next revisions, more modules (so more tables) will be added. If I keep the primary keys number fields… is there a script or something that will help me keep track of the last serial number used for each table? Or the range?…

Hi all friends from HELP ON LINE of FileMaker: But the real dimension of the object is lower ! (much lower for picture that aren't .jpg) Who knows the why ?

Hi all, Is there a way for FileMaker to generate a random number (4 digits preferably) in the field of my choice when I create a new record? I don't know if this is possible, but for it to only use that 4-digit number once? I don't want half the clients listed in my database to have the same client number. Thanks!

I have a field called name in one table called T info, the field is a checkbox set with values only allowed from a field value list. I have another layout called brackets with the fields called entry 1-4, i was wondering if there is anyway that i can import all the values checked on the checkbox set to these fields randomly. For example say i check the names A,B,C,D in the checkbox is theree anyway too import name A into entry 1,B into entry 2 and so on.

I am trying to insert an audio track into a container field. Everytime I select the field and go to "Insert Sound" from the Insert menu, Filemaker Pro Advanced v8.0v2 crashes. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I need to make sure a number field "fieldA" is NOT empty when another text field "fieldB" has certain text in it. I also would like a custom message alerting the user when this situation happens and they can't proceed until they add the data to the number field. Please help!!! :)

Something I have not seen before. Text field length is set to 10 pages, however, when trying to print a record with 5-6 pages of text, It blanks the 1st page and starts on page 2. First page text is completely missing. Any ideas?

In 8.0, I have status records related to client records. There can be many status change records per client. When I do a find on status record types, I'll get several records with duplicate client ID's. Lets say there's 10 records, 2 per client. The number of unique Client ID's would be 5. Problem: How can I setup a calculation field that will correctly show the # of unique Client ID's in each found set?? Thanks in advance for your HELP!

I have records of stock with expiry dates, can filemaker turn the expiry date (when reached) Red text to highlight the expired stock.

Hi Guys, Need help with a calculation please. Im using FMP8Advanced on a PC if that helps. I have two date fields and a text field as listed below d_startdate, d_enddate and d_subject. If d_startdate contained 1/5/2006 d_enddate contained 5/5/2006 d_subject contained "This_is_the_subject_field" the ouput i would like generated in my fourth field d_calc_date_subject would be 1/5/2006_This_is_the_subject 2/5/2006_This_is_the_subject 3/5/2006_This_is_the_subject 4/5/2006_This_is_the_subject 5/5/2006_This_is_the_subject Thanks for any help out there, im I looking at a recursive function?

I'm working on a task recording system. I have a master or header table that contains information for a support call, then I have a related detail table (in a portal) that contains records for things like: travel to site, on-site, lunch, break, training, etc.). This table has fields for start time, end time, and elapsed time. What I would like is for either the start time for one record to automatically be put into the end time for the previous record, or for the end time for one record automatically be the start time for the next record. Is there a calculation function that I am missing? I've looked at using a global field but I can't find a way to get the va…

I have placed a pdf in a container field and see its icon. When I double click on the icon, nothing happens. How do I get the PDF to open? I did not select "store only a reference to the file" Thank you

I'm a web developer, and I'm pretty unfamiliar with FM these days (I used it in my old job, way back on version 5)... A client of mine has a database with a single table, and I'm of the view that the information would be better divided into two tables. Is it possible for me to create a new table in the database, and then move some of the existing fields into it?

I was wondering if there was a way that I could extract the external ip address (not the internal ip address). I'm doing this so that I can make a startup script which will always know where the client computer is located (I need to know what city the client computer is in). I was hoping to find that a way that is easiy scalable.

Hello I understand we can hide a layout name in the menu but is there a way to delete it or hide it completely after info has been entered. I want the user not to be able to go to that layout again and from then on when they open the file it will go to the new layout. Is this possible? I appreciate your answers. Thank you

Hi all I used to use FileMaker a lot and got fairly proficient on it - evwn started helping some people on these forums. Now I come to use it again and am struggling with the basics!! Sure I'll get back into it but coud do with a nudge from someone please! I have 5 fields: Group Section Text Name Phone Some of these fields are set as being in BOLD style. I then want to create a calculation field which basically merges all the other fields into one text field. I can do this no problem - but the fields that were in BOLD are no longer shown as BOLD So it should show Group - Section Text text text text text text text text text te…

I have a calculation field to return the number of records in the current found set. It is simply: c_FoundCount = Get ( FoundCount ) But the returned number is the total records, not the number of records in the current found set. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hello, I am new here and was wondering if anybody could help me out here. I have an account id, date, transaction id, transaction amount(and total amount). I was wondering how I could sort and make a field definition for the amount spent each week and month by an individual person. Thanks for the help.

Is it possible to place more then one image into a container field? If not, how do I create solution to when I need to store X number of images with a given record. Thank you in advance. --DKG

Ok i have a field called country which uses a value list. Next to it i have a container field called flag, on my computer i also have a folder with flags that correspond to the values in the value list. Is there anyway to import the correct flag from this folder when the relevant country is picked from the country field; without using numerous If statements.

Hello, In my file I have a table with 200 records. In this table I use the following fields: [color:red]Options - A value list with 4 options: (A, B, C, and D) [color:green](Users can change the values in this fields) [color:red]Count - A summary field: (Count of Options) [color:red]Total by options – The total number of records by options. [color:green](I need help with this calculation) [color:red]Percentage - A calculation field 100 - Int(Count / Total by options * 100) Please help Thanks

I'm trying to set a table to pick up at random a value from a particular field in another table. The tables are related by these two fields. Can anyone help?

Can anyone help me with fractions? I want field a to be a fraction (1/15) and field b to be a fraction (1/15)? And then field c should be field a + field b = field c (calculated field) and it should display as a fraction. Any help is greatly appreciated. Have a great day!

Here's the situation: At my job, we offer basically 'extended warranty's' on several computer server components. We generate quotes for customers, by obtaining a copy of their weekly log output. (its a large file with everything from configuration to installed cards) what we do currently is compare by hand the output of the installed cards and drives, to a database of the actual part numbers. What i would like to do is create something in filemaker pro 8 to allow myself or my boss who create these quotes, the ability to go to this database, run a script or something - copy and paste in the sysconfig, and have it go line by line, and match up the line t…

I have a value list and when I select a specific value I would like it to go to a specific field. Im running a mac and FM 8 advanced, If anyone has any input it would be great

I have a staff file ste up as follows: Each staff member has a gross salary field, as well as a portal to another table that creates advances for that staff member as needed. So EmployeeA could have 3 entries in the advance table that total $60 (this result is computed from the original table, using a calc called Advances_total (def: Sum ( Advances::Advance_Amount ) + Cash_Advance_100), where Cash_Advance_100 is simply a number. I then have a report that lists all staff with their total Salary and total Advances, and at the bottom of the report, I have a summary field that calculates the Total Salaries of everyone in the found set, as well as another summary …

Hello, I have recently downloaded the trial of FM8 to try and setup my company sales database. I say New, last time I did a database it was on Dbase4 in the late 90's. : Brief explination of database plan. To contain the information from a customer placing an enquiry all the way through to order, utilising the same information, such as our product information (which can be pulled up from predefined fields, or typed in manually), also to contain all of the customer information etc that can be used to lookup in the orders. And to obviously track order progress, and see charts etc on the company growth.... blah blah I have tried to learn the basics of…

I set up a project todo list with a container field that shows a blinking gif that says "URGENT" anytime I missed a deadline on a project. The container field is set to compare a field with the current date and another field with a project deadline. If the dealine date passes (as compared to the current date) and the project is still listed as incomplete, then the container field will show the blinking "URGENT" gif. I got it all working great, except I can't seem to get the current date to ever stay current on its own. I found a way to refresh it using a script and a button, but I need it to refresh on its own on a daily basis without me having to close the database and r…

I have a solution that numbers the records in the invoice table with a serial number. Example Invoice numbers 1224, 1225, 1226.... I also have a related workorder table I would like those records to be numberd with the invoice it is related to plus a letter. Example Workorder numbers 1224-A, 1224-B, 1225-A, 1226-A, 1226B, 1226C... Any ideas of how I can acomplish this?

I have a database that assigns tasks and monitors status of work orders in my cabinet shop. The main screen signals if a worker is engaged in an activity by conditionally highlighting a container field behind the worker name. I also have a timestamp field that lets us know what time this task was started. What I would like to do is keep track of how long this activity has been in process. What I need, I guess, is some kind of timestamp that constantly refreshes itself. Subtracting the start-up timestamp from this dynamic one would probably give me the answer that I want. [color:red]Does anybody have any ideas of how to continuously (periodically?) refr…

How do i hide a field (from veiw) from a record but still maintain its function

Hello everyone. I am 4 days into our Filemaker trial and every day counts! I have to get a half decent database up and going before we can justify a license purchase. I am stuck on 2 big things in filemaker. Firstly using the container fields (a function which is perfect for what I need to achieve) how can I merely "link" a record to a file. I noticed that after adding a large PDF file to a record it's data was included into the database. And every record in this database will need a PDF of a CAD drawing attached! Can I do this? Or will I have to have a very bulky database? My second problem I will post in a more relevant place on the forum, int he meanwhile it'…

Can anyone tell me how to make a date field show the current date in every record. The use for this is to show the number of days that have passed since an invoice was issued by using a calculation field to show "Current date - Invoice date". Thanks.

Need some newbie help here.. How do I calculate two time fields? I have a "start time" and a "stop time". What I want is to calculate this, so I can get the total hours in a third field named "total time". And, if these hours are passing midnight? Confused :)

I have a FM6 database which calculates a date 6 months from the date on which a client is referred ("refdate") and then warns whether or not the referral is currently active or expired. This calculation works for me: [color:gray]Case( DateToText(Status(CurrentDate) < Date(Month(refdate) + 6, Day(refdate)- 1, Year(refdate))), DateToText(Date(Month(refdate) + 6, Day(refdate) - 1, Year(refdate))), DateToText(Status(CurrentDate) = Date(Month(refdate) + 6, Day(refdate)- 1, Year(refdate))), "TODAY", "EXPIRED") However from May 1st 2006 the referral remains active for 12 months rather than 6. I need to identify the expiry dates of currently…

I have a client with a FMP6db which has a calculated field, Session_Numeric_ID, which produces a number based on another field with a text session title for a conference registration process. In V8 you can specify do not recalculate, or do recalculate, but in V6 I don't see if/where that option exists. It seems set to not recalcualte which is not good if the user revises the session title, the numeric id is not being re-set. Any thoughts are welcome. I have suggested that they upgrade to V8. Linda

I would like to post a tip that has been very handy to me. It's not rocket science, but it took me a while to stumble onto it. I think it might be useful to others. What I have done is produce a button that assigns workers names to a task list. The button itself changes according to who is available to do the task. If Elvis is in the building, Elvis is assigned to Worker 1. If Elvis is on vacation, somebody else's name shows up on that button. This button could be pretty handy for someone managing tasks at a workplace with more than one shift of workers. What I would like to add to this is some ability to count how many tasks have been assigned t…

Coming from the Access DB world and in Access you had the ability to define 3 fields in a table as a unique key. How do I do the same thing in FM8 Advanced? Sorry if this question was posted before - I searched but didn't find anything similar.

My database has 30 small fields (not a value list) that can be difficult to detect if they are filled in. I want the field to stand out if there is information in it. Is there a way for a field to change to a color if information is entered in it? Or, perhaps a heavy colored border could be used. This surely would be helpful in reading the info. Thanks in advance. ABCRobstown

My company has several different types of transactions, all kept in different FM7 files. We want to add a tracking number to these files. The tracking numbers are reserved ahead of time, so i will know what numbers will be used. The tracking number will be entered manually, and not necessarily at the time the transaction is created. If a user types in a tracking number that is already in use in the same file, or in a different file, a suffix is generated. The suffix is blank for the first instance of the tracking number, then is incremented alphabetically each time the same tracking number is used (A, B, C...etc). What is the best way to keep track of t…

Can someone help me with a date calcualtion? I am trying to figure out how to get a result for "Number of days an order is in house" but I want the calculation to factor out weekends so if the order comes in on Friday and goes out on Monday it does not show in house of 3 days. All I currenty have is: Date_Out - Date_in = Number of days in house. Obvioulsy this won;t work and if I enter an IN_date and no out date I get a return of -732067 until I enter the Out date. There has to be a better way! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve

I hope someone can help me on this: I need to have a field calculation that shows the PRIOR record in a particular field. For example in table 'X' field 'PAYMENTS' has three records showing: 1 2 3 with '1' being the most recent I need to have this field calculation display '2' since it is the second most current. Also, I can't modify my relationships because of how integrated the database is now. Thank you in advance to all who can help me out!!!

I want to do the soft-del function to mask the non-use record. e.g. customer A -> (case 1) customer A -> (case 2) the case no 1 is the wrong input,so that I don't want to show (Case 1)in the screen, but I need to keep this record in the database. How can I do it? THX!!!

I am making a solution for creating and tracking estimates and work orders. I would like to make a layout that shows the status of the work orders in each dept. that may be working on them. I have this set up in a list view that shows the different depts. with a calculation field for each that describes the status. This layout is based on the work order table. Each work order has a line item portal which is based on the line items table (the portal, that is). The problem I'm having is that each caculation field describes only the first line item for each work order instead of evaluating the status of every line item. If every related line item had status of "done" t…

Hello Everyone, I am trying to link a pdf file with my database. I have not used a container field before and am not sure I like the results. I guess I am looking on opinions as to which option is better. I need to track steel plate in our inventory. Each plate has a heat code and a document that shows its origin and properties. This document proves its chemical and physical makeup and is very important. Anyway, right now it is saving it directly into the database. My question is will this require to much storage space? Will this slow down the program? In a year or two there could be thousands of these items in the database. Thanks.

Hi there, Please help if you can. I have 3 tables, Programs, Providers and Facilities. I want to relate each program to it's provider and facility. I have made a complex relationship where Programs::provider ID = Provider::provider ID AND Programs::facilityID = Facility::facility ID This works fine except in cases where there is no facility so the facility ID in the Programs table is blank. FM does not read the blank field in both tables as a match so the relationship doesn't work. I'd like it in cases like this to fall back to a simple relationship based on the provder ID match fields. Any ideas. Thanks, Kit

Hi, Here is my problem : I need to set a field without having to require the user to press a button to run a script. The script is to concatenate two fields (item number and order number) for a relationship. I enter an item number and then a qty in a portal. I want to perform validation on the qty. But only once the above relationship is established can i perform validation on the qty. After entering the item number, is there a way I can concatenate the ietm number and order number fields without having to require the user to press a button to run a script to set the field?

I have a calculation for a field that is not doing exactly what I expected and I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. I am trying to calculate the total billed. The following is the calculation I use for the field "TotalBilled": Case ( ReceivedbyBC = "retainer" ; Deposit ; IsEmpty ( StartTime ) or IsEmpty ( EndTime ); Oldtotalbilled; (Round( Hour( EndTime - StartTime ) + Minute( EndTime - StartTime ) / 60; 2) + If( GetAsNumber(EndTime) <= GetAsNumber(StartTime); 24; 0)) * HourlyRateBilled +Round ( OverdueInterest ; 2 )) It first checks to see if the Field "ReceivedbyBC" is set to "retainer", if it is then it uses the Field "Deposit" as the…

Hi All, I have a database (FM7) with a table listing clients related to a table listing contact numbers. In order to make a quick and dirty field for searching easily I have created a calc text field which combines all fields in the client database (client name, client address, client company) etc, seperated by carriage returns. That works perfectly, but now the problem is that I also want to add related phone numbers into that same field, and this I can't get to work properly. I thought the way to do it would be to use the ValueListItems function, so to test it I created a new field in the client table which using ValueListItems to show all of the rel…

Hi, This is my first time posting here. Sorry if what I type sounds confusing, but it can't be as confusing as the Filemaker manual. I am creating a simple form that we can print in the office. I started by creating a data base that included Macro codes, Diagnosis and Description. I have typed over 2 hundred. I then created a seperate data base that is linked to it. When I insert the Macro code (example bcc-n)it would fill in the Diagnosis and the description. It works great with one micro code, but now and then I need to put two of them. Is there anyway that I can merge two lookups into one field? I need it to wrap it self into the field. I have attach…

Firstly i would like to say that this is a repost of what i wrote on the forums at filemakertoday. I am double posting in the hopes that someone will reply to my thread here. My issue is that i have a complex filemaker solution, and i want to make it simpler. I want to take a static path and add a variable on to the end, then change the link in a container field to be this, and thus display a picture. Our images are stored on our network, and i want to have our filemaker solution link to them, the images change frequently (We have print quality images and thumbnails) the path is servernameimagesthumbnails the variable is STOCKNUMBER I want the…

hi everyone i am new to filemaker but have put together some simple databases. all i want is some guidance (or the best case senerio a solution)in how to start solving this problem i am about to state. i am keeping track of start dates and end dates of a court trial. i get a total number by simply subtracting the start date from end date (or visa versa). my problem is how to not count saturdays and sundays if the trial overlaps into the next week. also while im here how to eliminate courting holidays if they should fall during the week being counted

Hello, I have what turns out to be a tricky problem. I have a solution that manages Jobs, and for each job, many Tasks. I wish to record for each task a sequence number that is unique among all the tasks for the same job, and which starts at 1 for each new job. Thus, the sequence numbers are not unique among all tasks, but are unique within the set of tasks for a given job. I have two ways of doing this, each of which has its shortfalls. I am looking for ideas of another way that is more reliable. The first way is theoretically the best, but works out to be impractical. This approach uses a self-join between the Tasks table (joining on the unique Job I…

Sorry about posting a total noob question, but for some strange reason I can't get the calculations to work properly for a container field. I want to display some images using a pathname from another field. So I created a field called Imagepath that holds the following text: "image:images/product.jpg" Where images is a subfolder in the folder where my database resides. So I created a container field called Image with the Auto-enter Calculation as simply "Imagepath" When I jump back to my layout, there is absolutely nothing in the container. I'm I doing something wrong??

Hi guys, Newbie here with what should be a quick one. I'm trying to keep track of customer credit between two databases. Database1 is the general customer info with a field I created for adding in any credits due. Database2 is the invoicing bit where we add up their totals. I've managed to create the necessary fields so that Database2 looks to Database1 for the credit amount, but I need it to then subtract that amount from Database1 otherwise they will always have a credit. All of my solutions so far have been met with FM freaking over a circular sumbit. Keep thinking it's going to be a simple if/then/else solution but I'm not very savvy with FM. Thanks for…

Ok here's the overview. On an order record we can assign a trailerID, and a dropID. Both are drop-lists and contain text ID's. Ex: PB5, PB6, PB7 (trucks) Ex: F7, F8, F9 (trailers) Right now I have it setup so when you select a truck from the drop down list it will lookup what trailer would normally go with that truck and place that into the trailer field. Otherwise you can overwrite it by clicking on the trailer and selecting a different one from the drop down list. At this point you select which drop the order is going to be on. This is a series of letters A-> E. So here's an example truck portion of an order record: PB6 F7 A …

I am currently trying to figure out how to add up the number of records with a specific field that is greater than 2. The first field with the "?" and then a few numbers is the field. I want to count the fields that are greater than 2. I am completely new to creating reports like this in filemaker. I have been working with filemaker creating application for the pst 6 months so I am familiar with how to use filemaker in general. I am wondering what the best way to go about getting this number? I also need to then count up the number of records per sub-vendor and then take that number and divide the number of records greater than 2 by that number. It would be s…

Hi there I found the following calculation on a post on here and I have been trying to modify it so that I can calculate someones age based on the current date. This way their age will update each year in relation to the current date. However, out of 10 I would say i'm at level 2 or 3 so I don't fully understand it and it doesn't work when I modify it. Year(Date( 8; 1; Year(Get(CurrentDate)) + (GetAsNumber(Get(CurrentDate)) > GetAsNumber(Date( 8; 1; Year(Get(CurrentDate))) )) )) - Year(birthdate) - (GetAsNumber(Date( 8; 1; Year(Get(CurrentDate)) + (GetAsNumber(Get(CurrentDate)) > GetAsNumber(Date( 8; 1; Year(Get(CurrentDate))))) )) < GetAsNumber…

I have developed a fairly complex office management solution which also allows the user to write and print simple letters within FMP. Those letters can be as long as the field that holds the data can be in FMP 8 (10 to 12 pages). I've been using this happily in MacOS X environments for some time. Now I have a client who wants to keep his Windows 2000 setup... It turns out that data entry into that long field is almost impossible because it takes seconds before the text shows up. Nobody wants to type like that. They have reasonably fast PC's and a good network. It seems to be a problem within FileMaker. I've run some tests and I can accelerate…

I have a bit of a problem. I have 3 files. 1. FSP - pretty much a report file 2. Join - Join file, (FSP has a one to many relationship with this file) 3. Join_relationship - Join has a one to many relationship with this file. FSP is a layout that shows a list of people with a portal to the Join file. In the Join file, there is a list of relationships that person has (for instance the person's role is Child, but then the Join_relationship file is used to describe who the child is. So there would be two entries, Jan Smith and Jon Smith that would designate the person is a child of jon and jan smith.) I need somehow to display the records from the Jo…

I am supposing that this is a documented limitation in windows, but I am hoping someone has an idea to get around it... I can drag and drop a pdf to container and have a preview of the first page. But I can find no way to script it and end up with the "preview". Am I wasting my time or does someone have a way? BTW: Why can we not import a folder of pdf files at all?

I have a few fields that get data from one field and place it into many fields. The one field in the related DB has several codes for different services provided to special education students. I am sorting those codes into different fields in the second data base Example: If(Students_data::SpEd_Label="SLD","1","") Everything works well, I get a "1" in the field where I want it, BUT how can people add information into the calculated field. Of course right now I get a message the field is not modifiable. Is there a way in FMP 6?

I run a company that publishes telephone directories for communities. We publish one directory per year for each community that we service and we service half dozen communities. Many advertisers are repeats from previous years and each year may advertise in several communities. As I prepare to build my first database I do not know how to organize the records of my advertisers. Should I make a new file for each community for each year or just have a field within each record that designates which community and year that advertiser is for. Also, when I make a change to the record the next year I do not want to lose some of the info from the previous year such as what si…

I would like to create an auto incrementing serial number field to print some sheets of labels that are Mac Addresses (Media Access Control) numbers. The format is 00-00-00-AA-AA-AA each pair of numbers are hexidecimal numbers so it will increment from 00 thru 09 then 0A, 0B, 0C, 0D, 0E, 0F, 10, etc. Say I want to have a sheet of labels with 10 labels per sheet. Each label on a sheet will be its own field which will increment by 10 (10 per sheet) Is there any easy way to have filemaker use Hexidecimal numbers in the autoentry serial number field? It seems like someone would have run across this already? Thanks in advance, Mark

I am currently in need of integrating currency conversion into my FileMaker application. I was wondering if there are any techniques that are better for this kind of need. Typically, what solutions have people come up with to calculate current exchanges rates for use in FileMaker solutions? Thank you for your help.

Hi folks, I'm struggling with following problem: I have a script which inserts files in a container field, it works marvelously with text files, excel files, pdf files. But if I want to import a Keynote file it does not work. I’m aware that a Keynote file is not just a file, but it is a package containing files, but I need only to store a file reference. I don’t want to compress the document. Is there a way to do it?

Hi to All, using a solution from 8 advanced I need to make a simple drawing in a container using corel grafigo on a tablet pc. I can do this successfully using paintbrush or even word drawing but grafigo does not show on the list in the insert object dialogue box?? Is there a way I can add this program to the list?? thanks Tony

I am designing a database in Filemaker Advanced 8 and have opted to store pdf files in a container rather than as a reference because the database may be moved around and it seems to me that I could lose the file references if the database is shifted between computers. My question is, how big is too big for a database file? These PDFs range in size from 700kb up to 10mb and we are looking at storing hundreds of them. Are there any issues that I should be aware of with a really large database file? Thanks for any help or guidance you can give!

I'm almost embarrassed to ask this question -- I'm sure it's so simple. But I can't find the answer in FileMaker's help files nor in my copy of Special Edition: Using FileMaker. (Doesn't mean the answer's not there; just that I can't find it.) I want to use more than one text formatting function in a calculation, i.e. add color and add style. What is the syntax for using more than one text formatting function in a single calculation? As always, TIA. Abbe

Hello How would I secure a field? Is that possible in Filemaker? For example, driver's license is required on some reports but I don't want all users to have access to it. Once it's entered, actually I want it hidden from everyone until it prints out on the report. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Hi, I have a field that’s a lookup field from another that is a calc field, because, sometimes, I need to change de calc result, and I couldn’t do it in the calc field, so I created a lookup field that gives me a result (changeable) from the other one. The problem is that, almost every time the calc field is changed, the lookup field doesn’t sync with it… so I would have to “recalculate” it, making a find of that specific record so I recalc only that one (there are almost 65.000, and there’s a few that has been changed). Attached, there’s a picture of the lookup. It works as it is, though not every time. I’d appreciate some help. Teresa lookup.bm…

I am new to this forum, and have been digging deep into FM for over a year (v 4-8) now. I'm using 8 (&7) on WinXPpro to generate calculated containers to show multiple images for an individual object. That works fine, as long as the actual image file is named the same as what I predetermine. The plan is to not have to insert up to 1000's of images. My problem: I want to add a flag in the container calc to display a placeholder "Unavailable" image if the file referenced is not there. Instead of showing the text "The file cannot be found:path", another image would show up, indicating missing image. Hope this is clear, and hope someone can help. I've…

Given a starting date and an end date, I need to calculate the number of Fridays in the specified time period. I have not been able to do this and need your guidance. This is my first visit to this forum. Thank you for any suggestions! Sincerely, Rags

I am trying to do a multiple of the if then calcuation. What I have now... If ( Number Box = "1" ; "01") This works great but only for 1 entry. I want to expand the calcuation for numbers 1 to 9. I tried this... If ( Number Box = "1" ; "01") If ( Number Box = "2" ; "02") If ( Number Box = "3" ; "03") And so on up to 9, however I need to find out What to do to make it move on to the next line of if then. Is this possible? Please help if you can.

Hello! Sorry for the total newbie question. So, I have 3 databases. One which I use as a portal, call this database A. I next have a Database 2, which contains the portal from Database A, along with an address area for contact info. The portal itself has a notes area you can add notes. Finally, I have an invoice. All three have relationships to eachother. I am going in circles trying to figure out how I can make Database B and the invoice database autoenter address info. The portal database (A), doesn't contain this info, so I wouldn't like to that, right? My mind begins to Shut DOWN after going around in circles...what the heck am I doing wrong?? Help! thanks.

I made a quick database to calculate the total hours worked using (last time - first time), and deducting a lunch if applicable. I have made a report that summerizes the hours by employee for that database (which containes only 1 week of data). I get the total hours worked for each employee once I've sorted by the employee number using a summary. But now I need the average hours worked per week, so I need an average of the sum of a group of records. How? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks!

Apologies for what is a basic question, but I'm trying to sum one time field across a set of related records (e.g., all children of a a related parent record) and have tried various calcs and summaries, etc. but have come up short. I've read the FM help and have looked through my 3rd party books as well. If nothing else, could someone tell me if I need to convert the data in the time fields (hours, minutes, seconds) to numbers first, and then convert back to a time format for the summary? Thank you. Ken

In FM 7 with Win XP having a problem printing a MS Word OLE object to PDF. It prints to the printer but creates a MS error when I try to PDF the records. The MS Word object uses OpenType fonts and has equation objects from an editor- MathType. Any other resources for OLE or is it unwieldy?

Hi. I am new to File Maker. Currently using File Maker Pro 7.0 designing a database for hospital use. We have designed our forms and stuff. One of the field is gender. How can I COUNT the number of Males and the number of Females in that field? I have the GENDER field as a Pop-Down Menu. Thanks

FM8 Help describes four return values from the Get(WindowMode) function: 0 (Browse), 1 (Find), 2 (Preview) and 3 (printing). The Description goes on to say "If a script using this function runs while the file is in Layout mode, FileMaker Pro switches to Browse mode and returns 0." I found this while searching for a way to disable an auto-entry calculation in Layout mode. On a whim, I opened the Data Viewer tool in Layout mode and discovered that Get(WindowMode) returns a 4 -- just what I need!

I am having a hard time finding a solution to overwriting a calculated field. For the majority of records, summer salary + fall salary + winter salary + spring salary =Total salary… but there is a handful of records that don’t follow that rule and the “total salary” needs to be inputted manually. Can you overwrite a calculated field? Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

I have a portal with a timecode. The timecode comes from a second fm file. How can I add up the total time used in the portal rows? Sounds not to difficult but I cant get it to work! Thanks so much!

I apologise if this is a complete 'noob' question. I am writing a database to record scientific sample data. The established convention has been to name the samples with a 2 letter designation describing what the type of sample is and then a 2 digit serial number based on the sample type e.g. OF01 OM01 OF02 SC01 OM02 OF03 I want to write a script that will generate that id number. The only problem is that I have absolutely no idea how to do it! I am presuming that I will have to find all the records that start OF. Then strip the last 2 characters, find the highest number and then add one. All help will be greatly appreciated. Man…

Whats the best way to generate a calc based on the following criteria. I should say I now have it set up as a Case based Calc spelling out each of the possible scenarios. I am trying to figure out how long it takes to produce a job. We have 3 pieces of equipment. Press1, Press2, Press3. Each press can operate 3 differnt ways, Style1, Style2, Style3. My case is written as(shortend for this question) Case(Press1 and Style1=1; Press1 and Style2=2; Press1 and Style3=3; Press2 and Style1 = 4 and so on. I feel like there should be a better way to do this.

I have been trying to create a calculation field without success- I would like to have the first and last names in a contact table appear in a FirstLastName field. The calculation that I have tried is: "FirstName" & "LastName" but that does not seem to work. Can you help?

Hello Together, I didn't exactly know where to post this so I did it here. While entering data fp5 suddenly said Windows discovered an error, I had to close and restart Windows again. As I tried to open the file again fp5 saif I have to use the Recovery Command as the file can't be opened anymore. Doing so doesn't work either. This file contains my most important data (of course...)and my last back-up is too old to be really helpfull as I've had too many entries since then. Can anybody help??!! Is there a more advanced receovery out there than in fp5? Thank you, Andy

hey just a quick question, i want to get the number from a number field that may be in the format $299,000 or 299000 or 299,000 etc etc.. and put it in a hard format of $299,000 within a calc field, what number formatting functions if any would i use to do this? cheers for help, ~genx

I have a log of km entries and date and time of fillup that will allow a calculation of total miles travelled, total fuel used, and fuel efficiency for an motorcycle endurance race. What I want FMPro to do is take the km for the first and last entry (last is the finish) and subtract to get the total km travelled. There are at least 100 entries for each motorcycle for the entire endurance race and about 200 motorcycles. So entries look like: 1st Entry for Bike 1 odometer (5,786 km) : volume of fuel (13.4 litres) : date and time of fillup (05/12/05 15:10) Many intermediate entries Last Entry for Bike 1 (FINISH): odometer (8,580 km) :…

i need aome help plese!

I have a time calculation that gets me the hours a job should take. So if my time is 3.75 hours, I would like it to read 3 3/4 hours. I would also be happy with 3hrs, 45 mins. Also, how do i get my calc fields to recalculate when I make a change to a calc?

I want to do a few things with dates. They are: Calculate whether today's date is past the due date of a job. See how long it took to process a job from the date the record was entered to date it was marked closed. Are there functions that let me evaluate a date as a number?

I'm embarrased to ask this because I asked a similar question before but I have such a hard time understanding how validation by calculation works. I have 2 fields. Field A is a number field. Field B is a text field. What I want to do is require the user to add a note--enter some text into Field B--if Field A contains any number. This is so common in other databases that I have encountered yet I just can't seem to figure out how to make this calculation work. I just don't seem to understand how to think about the problem. The note at the bottom of the define calculation says that it must be boolean which I think means 0 or 1 or true or false. But …

I have an invoice system with line items for parts and line items for labour. I would like the sub total to be a number field instead of a calculation. But I can not get a result with the number field having a auto-enter calculation of sum (relation::amount). I would like to avoid scripts for now. I would like the subtotal to be a number field so the DB remains fast and doesn't get bogged down over time and when performing reports.

I'm trying to make a calendar, but i don't know how to do it. i've tried following the 'the calendar conumdrum solved in filemaker pro'-guide, but i can't get it to work... Is there any simple, spelled out guides available? What i want in the end is a calendar who is linked to my customer profils, so i can make the appointment under the customer profile, but stille have all the customer appointments in my calendar...

I have a serialnumber as a "Auto-enter Serial" for each of my customer records. Then I created a new list/report and inserted the "Record_nr" field. Now this field don't show the serial number but a "?". If I place the cursor in the field I see the number??

Hi all: I am working on a system which is to be accessed via FMP locally and via the internet using Flash/php integration. I'm just building the FileMaker portion (not the Flash/php part) and am a bit stuck on how to deliver the file-path for a container field to the guy developing the Flash/php stuff. The idea (and maybe this isn't the right approach) was to use the FTPit plug-in to store the images on a folder on our web server, and at the same time to insert that image in the container (stored as reference.) Is this the right way to go, or is there a simpler way? Is it possible to store the images within the db instead of as references, and have the images…

I've just started using FM 8 and I've been having some success, but this has me baffled. I've taken the Contact Management template from FM and added some fields (i.e. cell #, url link home #, etc) My problem is that now when I'm filling in the contacts I usually tab through the field for speed, and the new feilds I've added don't get highlighted in order. The tab key will skip through all the fields that were originally in the template and then it comes back to the fields I've added. Is there a way to coorect this?